Invented by Kevin Kelly, Joseph Craig Kelly, JOLLY SEVEN SERIES 70 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I

The Market for Drive-Thru/Point-of-Sale Automated Transaction Technology and Apparatus

Drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus encompass hardware, software, and services. POS systems offer merchants the capacity to process financial transactions and exchange goods or services for money in retail stores.

Point-of-sale (POS) solutions are tailored to help merchants manage inventory and orders, sell products, process payments and manage customer relationships and staff. Some systems such as Shopify POS also offer reporting and analytics that enable businesses to unify in-store and online sales activities and inventory.

Technology

The market for drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus is growing, as consumers seek out new ways to interact with food franchises. This includes everything from kiosks at the drive-thru to curbside pickup and delivery services.

Fast-food restaurants, food delivery services and landscapers alike will find that mobile point of sale (mPOS) systems can make transactions faster and smoother. These portable systems connect to smartphones or tablets so you can process payments on the go.

A mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) system can assist with inventory management, sending alerts when stock levels drop, and automating reordering processes for faster checkout times. These features are particularly beneficial to businesses that rely on self-checkout options like drive-thru restaurants and retailers that rely heavily on self-checkout operations.

Another advantage of a mobile POS is its capacity to track customer information and preferences. This can help tailor promotions and offers specifically to your customers’ needs, encouraging them to keep coming back.

The mPOS is also useful for monitoring customer orders, especially recurring ones that come in on a regular basis. This helps you stay profitable and provides your customers with the best experience.

Finally, an mPOS can help you reduce processing times by processing orders in real-time. This expedites delivery of products to customers, which increases sales and enhances customer satisfaction.

Chick-fil-A, for example, uses mobile Point of Sale technology (mPOS) to accept customer orders at their drive-thru line. This makes it convenient for customers to place orders, pay with credit cards and pick up their meals without ever needing to leave their cars.

A Point-of-sale (POS) system is an integral element of fast-food restaurant businesses. It helps take payment from customers, process their purchases, and verify all information is correct. Furthermore, it routes funds directly into your bank account after each sale. There are various POS systems available on the market; however, make sure to select one that meets all your specific needs. Read through merchant agreement terms thoroughly and consider taking advantage of any free trials before committing long term.

Apparatus

Drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus are essential elements in the modern fast food industry. They enable restaurants to manage inventory, orders, payments and customer relationships on one integrated platform that unifies in-store and online sales and operations. Many POS systems are cloud-based, enabling merchants to accept transactions anywhere with any device. Some point-of-sale software also comes with features that further integrate these experiences – like analytics and reports that help store owners make informed decisions about product placement, pricing policies, promotions etc.,

A mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) system links to a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet and transforms it into a portable register that can process payments on the go. It’s perfect for small businesses that need to accept payments, monitor inventory and run reports quickly on-the-go. Companies like Chick-fil-A use this type of mPOS system in their drive-thru lines for this exact purpose.

The system includes an image scanner that can read a unique barcode or identifier on a customer’s mobile device and send it to a kiosk processing the order. In some embodiments, this identifier helps identify customers and creates a “go-to” or default order based on their ordering history.

Another feature common to both mPOS and POS systems is their capacity for connecting to various payment methods, such as credit cards or prepaid gift certificates. Often, POS systems include a Bluetooth transmittable sequence of characters which can be sent directly from the mPOS in order to translate barcode or identifier into an appropriate payment method.

Multiple payment methods make it simpler for customers to select the option that works best for them, rather than having them rely solely on traditional credit cards. This is especially beneficial when the transaction involves a gift certificate or similar item.

Furthermore, mPOS and POS systems use sophisticated computer software to process data and generate reports. Some can integrate with kitchen and back-office operations, providing customers with a streamlined experience.

As customer behavior continues to change, drive-thru/point-of-sale transactions are becoming more automated in nature. Therefore, the equipment that powers these operations needs to be reliable and efficient, capable of performing complex tasks quickly, as well as easy to service and maintain.

Software

Drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus span a broad spectrum of products, services and business models. POS software used by drive-thru restaurants should help restaurants provide top-notch service, boost customer loyalty and boost sales – while being user friendly with all the newest POS features integrated.

Selecting the ideal POS system is essential for your business’s success. Not only does it make it simpler to take orders, process payments and monitor sales data more efficiently, but it can even suggest products based on past purchase histories.

One of the most widely-used POS systems is Mobile POS (mPOS). This connects to your smartphone or tablet for payment processing and inventory tracking, making it ideal for businesses that have mobile staff or need to process orders on-the-go, such as landscaping companies or food delivery services.

Other Point-of-Sale software is cloud-based and provides real-time inventory management. This helps you avoid stock shortages or overstocking, guaranteeing you always have enough items on hand to satisfy your customers.

Restaurants, hair salons and hotels often rely on Point-of-Sale systems (POS) to manage their operations. These systems generate reports for accounting and bookkeeping purposes; they can even be remotely accessed by corporate offices or troubleshooters.

No matter the business sector, POS systems can handle various functions like employee scheduling, accounting, inventory control and CRM. These can be tailored to suit individual needs with various hardware and software choices available.

Many of these programs also provide team management, which can be especially helpful for businesses with multiple employees. This provides your staff with the tools necessary to keep track of their shifts and performance as well as the ability to clock in/out easily.

These programs can be quite complex, making them ideal for larger restaurants or franchises with multiple locations. Furthermore, to ensure security, drive-thru restaurants should be PCI compliant as many credit card exchanges take place there.

Before making a decision, do your due diligence and research the available POS software options. After narrowing down your list, run a demo of each option to ensure it meets your business requirements.

Services

Drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus offers a variety of systems to help merchants manage consumer purchases, sales, and payments more effectively. These innovations are intended to boost efficiency within businesses, streamline management procedures, and create happier customers.

Point-of-sale (POS) hardware and software enable merchants to accept credit/debit cards, process transactions and send funds directly into their bank accounts after each sale. Furthermore, this technology assists businesses in tracking inventory levels, staffing levels and sales activity.

Point-of-sale systems can come as standalone units that are installed at a restaurant, or they can be cloud-based and run on tablets and smartphones. No matter the system type, most offer similar features.

An essential POS hardware element is a credit and debit card reader, which reads customer card data using chip-and-pin technology to complete payment processing. In some systems, this hardware may also include a receipt printer or label printer to print out receipts for customers.

Other POS hardware may feature a touchscreen monitor, which allows users to navigate the computer with either their finger or stylus. The display also shows customer information in an intuitive manner for added convenience.

Furthermore, many POS systems integrate with enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions to automatically reconcile transactions with the ERP system. This saves time and minimizes errors, leading to improved efficiency and cash flow for retail businesses.

Restaurants need a modern POS solution to provide omnichannel customer service and boost sales. It must be versatile enough to support multiple selling verticals such as in-app, phone, drive-thru or online ordering.

Simphony is a cloud-based POS system that is robust, scalable and customizable for drive-thru lines, kitchens, back office operations and more. It provides multichannel sales management through web order forms, mobile/tablet apps and SMS text-to-pay capabilities.

No matter the size or type of store you run – fast food franchise, grocery chain or consignment shop – POS systems can give your business the tools it needs to thrive and keep customers coming back for more. The right solution will increase speed and efficiency while decreasing labor costs, improving customer service levels and creating sustainable sales streams.

The JOLLY SEVEN SERIES 70 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I invention works as follows

The present invention consists of methods and apparatus that allow for automated provision of goods by scanning systems. The present invention is a method to automatically communicate which goods are being ordered, their location, payment method, kitchen fulfillment, item tracking, and delivery by automatic dispensers. Preferential embodiments of the invention allow for the automatic ordering and picking-up of food items from a fast-food restaurant, and delivery to a food dispenser at the customer’s location.

Background for Drive-thru/point-of-sale automated transaction technology and apparatus

Many situations that involve the provision goods in today’s market, such as fast food meals, depend on the customer’s ability to place an order quickly and get the right food items.

Human interaction between customer and employee can lead to time-consuming mistakes. These errors could be due to user error, misinterpretation due to language barriers, speech impairments or the hard-of-hearing, or inaudible conversations due to defective drive-thru speaker. This can result in fewer customers returning due to lower satisfaction ratings, poor customer service, incorrectly processing orders, long wait times, interruptions when implementing new technologies, etc.

In addition, a point-of-sale/drive-thru transaction is limited in its ability to receive orders and deliver goods by the human factors involved, i.e. The employee may be able to only work as fast as they can. The time it takes to process an order can be affected by how fast the employee can take the order from the customer, listen to the order and record it. This is not only costly for both the customer and the employee, but it is also taxing for the fast-food retailer.

Today’s barcodes and other unique identifiers are static. They don’t generate or change specific to a customer order. Today, identifiers that are scanned at fast food restaurants only link to customer profiles and the method of payment (scanned by employees at the checkout) after an order has been placed. Customers must still communicate their order in the store or at a drive-thru. They can also pre-order online from the restaurant’s mobile app and place an order ahead of time. You cannot also place orders in one electronic transaction, consolidate, or share them. Electronic or automatic payments cannot be split between customers.

The present invention provides an automated system and method for performing a transaction that involves placing an order, assembling the ordered items, verifying payment and delivering the goods to the customer. A method or process that allows delivery drivers to use food delivery apps to deliver food quickly to customers and to share a storage medium or dispensing device is needed. This will enable delivery companies to deliver food quickly and save them money. It will also allow customers the flexibility and convenience to pick up their food at home without the need for a driver, as is the case with current delivery models. Many types of buildings or locations may be difficult to access or are not easily accessible. These embodiments provide a prime example. These embodiments can greatly reduce delivery times, and could be a significant improvement on the logistical problems that might accompany drop-off in food delivery.

Some embodiments may not only allow for the identification of delivery drivers using a preferred process but also allow for the provision of stored orders to customers or customers. They can register the completion of the delivered order without the presence of a driver or direct interaction between a driver and a customer. Customers’ interactions with delivery companies and their choice of company may be affected by several factors, including the proximity of the restaurant to the customer, the proximity of the delivery driver to said restaurant and estimated delivery and preparation times, delivery cost, accessibility of the driver to the customer and ease of access to them.

The following examples show how customers and delivery services interact. This includes the selection of a restaurant, engagement of a delivery service and selecting the appropriate location for delivery. Payment processing is also performed. The customer is notified of progress and success with delivery.

Additionally some post-transaction payment sharing options may be available today, such as CashApp and Venmo; however, it is possible that an architecture for pretransaction payment sharing may not exist. Current examples do not allow users to assign a value based upon their preferred food item. Instead, they may assign pre-transaction payments splitting amongst users based on the exact amount of each user’s food item. The application may ask users to manually enter a certain amount or it might divide the amount evenly among the number of participants in the group.

The present invention, Point-of-Sale/Drive-Thru Automated Transaction Technologies (ATT) is predicated on an ordering, transacting, filing, and pick-up process at commercial fast food retailers. With the modernization of automated-technologies, ATT looks to bring a single (or minimal) step ordering process to the point-of-sale or drive-thru with limited human interaction.

The limitations of the human work process that operates unilaterally in nature, such as the limit on the number of drive-thru or point-of-sale transactions, are eliminated herein. ATT addresses these issues and offers methods and apparatus to provide faster and more accurate customer service and save fast food retailers time and money.

In certain embodiments, an AT system can be integrated with order processing equipment or existing applications, thereby leveraging and taking advantage of existing proprietary technologies and applications that fast-food retailers might have spent significant resources developing.

Embodiments at ATT provide new techniques and use of technology to provide automatic fast-food orders (or any other merchandise order), transactions and item pick up from remote, onsite points-of-sale or drive-thru locations via a mobile device, or other apparatus.

Fast food customers often order food at random. Customers have a ‘go-to’ list of meals they want to eat. Customers often have no predetermined food preferences, so to speak. However, they may not choose a specific fast-food location. Most people don’t know where they want to eat fast food. People often choose fast food restaurants because they are convenient. There are many factors that influence the convenience of ordering food. These include customer control, minimum wait time, order accuracy and restaurant/staff responsiveness. Customers order food on the move, whether they are traveling, with multiple customers, or when it is most convenient. When a driver has multiple orders to make at a drive-thru, it can become a hassle. These inefficiencies will be eliminated by ATT.

Embodiments might consider multiple orders complex. Generally, the more orders placed and more complex an order are, the more likely any order is to make mistakes due to user error or miscommunication.

The present invention solves the problem of splitting payments among multiple purchasers. It solves the problems of many of today’s fast food technology or applications. Customers must choose a restaurant and preorder a meal. Then, customers have to come in to pick up the order. This invention implements scan-to-order capabilities. One or more customers can combine multiple meals into one order and pay for all items at participating locations. ATT largely eliminates many of the inefficiencies and shortcomings of current systems. ATT can be adapted to existing franchise systems. A loyalty program or sign in may or may not need to be required. Customers may place orders, pay and then pick up their items through the mobile app or without any human interaction.

One aspect is a system for delivering a prepared food item. The system includes: a computer server with a processor in logical communications with a digital storage storing executable codes; and a transmitter with logical communication to a digital communication network. The executable code works with the processor to allow the server to receive an encoded barcode and a unique transaction number with encoded information, including a user ID, from a scanner at a food preparation facility. A server may also be able to display a user’s order description and payment status on a mobile device. A remote operation of a dispenser may be possible based on receipt of an encoded barcode. The dispenser is composed of a number of bins that can store food items. When the user presents the mobile device with this barcode, the dispenser will dispense one or more of these items.

One aspect is a method of delivery of food products. The method includes receiving a description of the order and a payment status displayed with a barcode on a mobile device or other means, such as printed images on receipts. A remote operation of a dispenser may be possible based on receipt of an encoded barcode. The dispenser is equipped with a number of bins that can store food items. When the barcode is presented to the user, the device will allow the dispenser to dispense one or more food items. The temperature of each food item in the dispenser can be set at ambient temperature, below ambient temperature, or higher than ambient temperature. Configuring executable code is also included to include a first touchscreen activated functionality. This activates a group ordering protocol. Method also includes receiving an activation response from a user. The method includes the receipt of a list of multiple users that may be involved in creating a food product order. Communication with the plurality users is also part of the method. This communication allows for two or more users to place orders. This method can also include receiving orders from more than one user. This method includes notifying the first user about the status of an order. The method includes placing food products into a first bin of dispenser. This allows food products to be included in the food order of any two or more users. The method also involves communicating a barcode to the first user. This barcode gives the information necessary for the user to interact the dispenser and receive the group order of food products. The dispenser will only dispense the food products to first users if the barcode image is submitted to a scanner attached to a dispenser.

One aspect is a method for dispensing food items that are ready to be consumed by customers, which includes the step of receiving the programmable code for execution on the customer’s smart device. The method of dispensing food items includes the identification of the customer being entered into the smart device. In order to dispensing food items, the method also involves entering multiple restaurants into the customer’s smart device. A method for dispensing food items includes creating a geographical position of the customer’s smart device using global positioning coordinates. A customer’s preferred restaurant can be displayed on their smart device screen. This includes any of the multiple restaurants. A travel time to the chosen restaurant is also displayed as part of the method of dispensing food items. A travel path to the chosen restaurant is also part of the method for dispensing food items. The method of dispensing food includes creating an order, including food items and preparation, on the customer’s smart device. The method of dispensing food items includes sending the order, including food items and preparation, to the preferred restaurant. The method of dispensing food items includes the display on the customer’s smart device of a direction of travel that is based on the geographical position of the customer and the selected preferred restaurant. Payment information is also sent to the customer for payment. This information can be based on food items or food preparation. A unique identifier is required to identify the food item ordered and its preparation. An automated dispenser can also be used to dispense food items by transmitting the unique identifier associated the order for food items or food preparation. Method of dispensing food items includes the transmission of unique identifiers and payment information. This allows the automated dispenser to order food items that are ready for consumption according to customer’s instructions.

Implements may include one or more the following features. Method for dispensing food items that are prepared for consumption by a customer. This method also includes the step of updating the geographical position periodically and sending the updated geo position to the chosen preferred restaurant. Method for dispensing food items that are ready to be consumed by a customer. This method also includes the steps of updating the geographical position periodically and updating the direction according to the updated geographic location. A method of dispensing food items that are prepared for customer consumption also includes the step of creating an indication of fulfillment of the order for food or food preparation. A method of dispensing food items that are ready for consumption by a customer also includes the steps of receiving a list from a plurality users who may be involved in creating a food product order. Communication with multiple users may be part of the method. This communication allows for two or more users to place orders. This method could also include receiving orders from multiple users. This method could also include receiving orders from two or more users.

The process of dispensing food items that are ready for consumption by a customer could also include receiving payment information from all of the users who have placed orders and sending the information to the chosen restaurant. A threshold of travel time may be added to the method of dispensing food items ready for consumption. This may include entering a travel route. This may include putting in a permissible deviation. This method could also include the generation of a list with food vendors that have automated dispensers along the route and within the travel time threshold.

The scanning of a license plate number using an image capture device may be used to dispense food items that are ready for consumption. Based on the scan of the license plate number, the method can also be used to identify the order of food and the food preparation. A method of dispensing food items ready for consumption by customers also includes the scanning of a customer’s face with an image capture device in order to create a facial picture. This method could also include facial recognition of the facial image. Facial recognition can also be used to identify the order of food and the food preparation. A near-field communication protocol may be used to transmit the unique identifier of the customer’s smart device to an automated dispenser. An automated food dispenser that prepares food for human consumption includes: A container containing multiple different bins, each suitable for storing food; at least one cup-holder within each bin; a digital input devices for receiving an order from a customer; a receiver to receive digital information via a distributed network; an executable code storage device; a processor for communicating with a storage device that stores executable code. The processor will receive a user input, which includes the unique identifier, and then transmit a command to move the bins.

Click here to view the patent on Google Patents.